The day I was sworn in, January 1962, it snowed so heavy you couldn't see the road and the base where I was being sworn in was thirty miles away. I had to be there at 0900 so I left home at 0700. I was driving a 1950 Plymouth which anyone could attest to, is a tank. On my way on a back road a Volkswagen Beetle was approaching me when it slid head on into me at about 20 mph. The entire front of the Beetle was crushed and my car was barely scratched. The other driver was being followed by a friend so we exchanged information, pushed the car aside and we both drove off. I finally arrived to the swearing in almost 30 minutes late. I explained to the recruiters and officer about the accident but they still appeared to be pissed. Finally the eleven of us put our right hands in the air and took our oath. After the oath the Captain pulled me aside and I thought what a bad start. Then two camera men appeared and started taking pictures of me and the Captain. Now I was really confused. Finally after five or ten pictures the camera men disappeared and so did the Captain. I grabbed a Gunny standing by and asked him what the hell that was all about. He simply responded, "It's your birthday" I laughed and responded "Todays not my birthday" Now he laughed. "I know that but your birthday is 10 November and that is the Marine Corps Birthday which you will discover, is a big deal. That's why the Captain had his picture taken with you. They are going to do a little article in the paper. Needless to say I found out MY birthday was a big deal.
back shoulder eagle globe and anchor
on my back on the shoulder blade. my first tattoo ever, moto tattoo
0331 Moto Tatt
Had this one done after deployment with 3/7 back in 09
Camp Lejeune, 1968-70. Cpl. Larry Woolverton
After being plucked out of the quaint little village of Khe Sanh on January 23, 1967, I spent the next few months bouncing from one hospital to another – Danang, Cam Rahn Bay, Clark AFB in the Philippines, the Naval Hospital on Guam, Travis AFB, San Francisco, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, then on to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station and their hospital. I was there for about two months. After a couple of weeks, I was allowed to go home on a ten day leave. My parents met me at the airport in Tulsa, and we went home. I was never so happy to see anyone in my life.
Kohtang Survivor
Back in May of 1975 I survived a battle that was considered the Last Battle of Viet Nam. We had to go re-capture a ship that the Khmer Rouge had pirated off the coast of Cambodia. The name of the ship was the SS Mayaguez. I’m hoping that by posting this tattoo on your website just might be seen from some of the other survivors I fought with. Thank You Terry Brooks Echo co 3rd plt 2nd blt 9th Marines
HOW-6
Sgt Grit
The last two newsletters have had a few articles about the How-6's and if they were used in Viet-Nam. I was in the first HOW-6 Platoon that was formed in November of 1965 and was part of 3rd Amtrac's outside of Danang and transferred to 1st Marine div in late 66. There is not much history of us being there because we were always attached to and in support of other outfits during Operations and river patrols. They were worn out by the time we were replaced by a company of How-6s in December of 1966 and that appears to be the start of the history of the HOW-6s in Viet Nam. I was a field radio operator (2531). I don't remember many names but myself ,Mike Lentini, who I still have contact with, and Don Brown, who was killed when the track he was on hit a land mine(DOW-11nov 1966) arrived together and met Tim Gott ( I believe He received 2 Purple Hearts) there. We were all from 2/8 at Camp Lejeune.
Don Lariviere
1963-1967
Sitting with Warrior
It wouldn't seem appropriate to review my own book, so I've submitted one of four 5-star reviews on Amazon.com.
–– Carl Hitchens, Author of Sitting with Warrior:
LTHRNCK License Plate
Cpl Allen Osborn
ABQ, NM
B / 1 / 13
Sir/Madam:
This picture is the '05 that Joe Featherstone mentioned in his piece that you published in the last two issues of your catalog. In response to Mr. Featherstones comment on wanting to put the 12th Marine Shield on the tube has ruffled my feathers a bit…
USMC Mud Run for Blake
Sgt. Grit,
The Marine Corps Mud Run in Columbia, SC honors Marines and their families, with generated funds going to the Marine Corps Foundation. This was my 3rd year doing the course, this year in a limited way due to recent knee surgery (no obstacles), but we were all committed to doing it in honor and memory of Navy SCPO Blake McLendon. While we've done the course in Sgt. Grit purchased Marine Corps t-shirts, we ran it this year with shirts made to commemorate Blake. Next year we'll be back with your t-shirts!